The Senate has passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, helping to clear the way for millions of Americans to potentially receive $1,400 stimulus checks, yet President Joe Biden and the House of Representatives still have to approve it some time this week.
On Saturday, Biden stated: “This plan will get checks out the door starting this month to the Americans that so desperately need the help.” For many Americans who are currently receiving unemployment benefits or are unable to afford food and rent, Biden’s stimulus gives a much-needed boost to lift the financial burden of their shoulders, even if temporarily.
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
I tend to follow food news a good bit. I enjoy seeing the trends, whether it’s in food programming on TV or the latest trends coming out of food companies and the restaurant industry.
The big political fight over the last week has been the COVID-19 relief bill, the first iteration of which included a federal minimum wage increase. Typically, minimum wage increases are divisive because they reignite the age-old fight between businesses and workers. The current federal minimum wage is not high enough to be a “livable wage,” and that is a point that Democrats and labor groups harp on constantly. Pro-business groups point out that raising wages forces increased costs on business owners, which can ultimately hurt jobs and force business closures.